I found that the 2013 sb better than the previous year models. It turns much faster and drifts better, has less bar pressure, it jumps the same, but more float. However, even if your line lengths are set correctly (all 4 the same length at full power) you have to fly it on the 3 knot (closest to the kite), or at the extreme low end of the wind range, the double digit sizes, it seems you can even connect to the backline / connector knot, which is contrary to the owners manual that the kites flies best on the middle knot. (so perhaps the back kite lines are a fraction too long). Despite this, as long as you trim the kite so that it does not back stall when the bar is pulled in all the way against the chicken loop and full power about a fist away from the chicken loop, it does not matter which knot you tie it too, in the recommended wind ranges, the overall performance of the 2013 kite is better than previous models.

Last edited by Timop on Sun May 05, 2013 1:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

In this interesting discussion about kite power and the relative length of the steering (rear) lines, no one has mentioned an inportant point... that being "short-armed" people versus "long-armed" people and their different preferences concerning where they want the "sweet-spot" for the travel of the bar to be located.... closer to the body for short-armed versus farther away for the long-armed kiters.

Considering the above reality, it will be obvious that the adjustment of the power line enters into the equation. As an example, I knew of a case of a long-armed kiter who was very happy with the power-band of his kite, but when he let his short-armed friend fly the kite, that particular kiter hated the performance of the kite, and found the kite "defective" in that it always wanted to "back-stall".

If you think of the factors involved in the relationship between (1) bar throw (travel), (2) rear line length, and (3) sweet spot preference, you will solve the mystery. A simple adjustment of the powerline adjuster greatly improved the "short-armed" kiter's opinion of the kite.

Sometimes, an improved understanding of the physics of kite functioning is all that is needed to raise the performance of a particular kite, in the rider's opinion, from "zero" to "hero".

tomatkins wrote:In this interesting discussion about kite power and the relative length of the steering (rear) lines, no one has mentioned an inportant point... that being "short-armed" people versus "long-armed" people and their different preferences concerning where they want the "sweet-spot" for the travel of the bar to be located.... closer to the body for short-armed versus farther away for the long-armed kiters.

Considering the above reality, it will be obvious that the adjustment of the power line enters into the equation. As an example, I knew of a case of a long-armed kiter who was very happy with the power-band of his kite, but when he let his short-armed friend fly the kite, that particular kiter hated the performance of the kite, and found the kite "defective" in that it always wanted to "back-stall".

If you think of the factors involved in the relationship between (1) bar throw (travel), (2) rear line length, and (3) sweet spot preference, you will solve the mystery. A simple adjustment of the powerline adjuster greatly improved the "short-armed" kiter's opinion of the kite.

Sometimes, an improved understanding of the physics of kite functioning is all that is needed to raise the performance of a particular kite, in the rider's opinion, from "zero" to "hero".

really? i learned that in my 2nd lesson. someone's ineptitude at one of the most basic things of flying the kite shouldn't reflect poorly on the kite, no matter his friends' abilities at making long winded points and using bulleted lists

i would say the long arm guy doesnt know how to tune his kite OR doesnt know how to select gear that allows him to comfortably use the throw of his control bar properly. why have a bunch of useless oversheeting built into your bar throw. thats dumb.

instead, long arm guy can get a bar with a long harnessloop/quick release assembly and put the whole system further out in front of him, so that pulling the bar all the way in is no longer so awkward, and more importantly (unless his current bar has incredibly long throw like only a few bars out there) he has ample depower available when letting the bar out, as apposed to only partial when the bar is all the way out (likely situation for a long arm guy with his kite tuned like you suggest.)

short arm people (chicks) benefit from smaller loops, shorter release systems, and also shorter harness bar hooks. seat harnesses also bring control bars closer and require less reach for depowering.

(useless oversheeting: it is useless, i know many of you think you can use it to your advantage somehow, and in that case go right on trying, but for the record it is not helpful to high performance kiting. but if you think it is or like it for some strange reason then thats cool too)